With a week to go until Halloween, my huge thanks go to Daphne Denley, one of the contributors to a most timely collection, Spooky Ambiguous, edited by Lorna Brookes, for arranging to have the book sent to me in return for an honest review. I’m delighted to share that review today.

Published by Crumps Barn, Spooky Ambiguous is available for purchase here.

Spooky Ambiguous

Ghosts and vampires, zombies and werewolves. A mirror with danger at its heart. A child is delighted to discover she is a witch, and a village disappears under a fairy curse. Then a selkie finds her way back to the waves, before a blood moon rises, bringing its own secrets …

Full of the spooky and the gothic, fairy tales and poetry, this is a brilliant and intriguing collection where nothing and no one is as they seem.

Bringing together authors from across the UK: featuring Penny Ayers, Michael Bartlett, Patrick Booth, Amaris Chase, Holly Anne Crawford, Ivor Daniel, Amanda Jane Davies, Daphne Denley, J. J. Drover, Harriet Hitchen, Rebecca McDowall, Jane Phillips, Angela Reddaway, Joe Robson, Margaret Royall, with illustrations by Lorna Gray

My Review of Spooky Ambiguous

Now, I don’t ‘do’ Halloween, feeling like Leslie in Michael Bartlett’s Mirror Mirror that it’s ‘American-inspired rubbish’ and I rarely read anything spooky because I don’t like being scared, so really Spooky Ambiguous should be a book for me to avoid. Hmm. I really enjoyed it!

Filled with slightly intangible, ethereal and hugely atmospheric illustrations from Lorna Gray that add to the mystery of the book and enhance the writing, Spooky Ambiguous has something for every reader. There’s a Gothic rather than overtly horror genre feel to the collection (although that’s represented too, particularly in Joe Robson’s Penance) with both poems and short stories from such a wide range of writers that this eclectic volume really is greater than the sum of its parts.

There are elements one might expect with a collection under the title Spooky Ambiguous with werewolves, selkies, ghosts and so on, but there’s historical and geographical detail, literary allusion and some wonderful writing too, particularly with regard to vivid or disturbing descriptions so Spooky Ambiguous has depth and quality. I especially appreciated the sense of place that is created in so many entries whether that’s a crypt, a closed road or a newly renovated house.

The different entries entertain brilliantly and of course, some will appeal to some readers more than others, but what works so well here is the exploration of themes. There’s identity and appearance, stereotypical attitudes and feminism, control and deception as well as death, relationships and science. However, the most affecting element of the collection, as the title might suggest, is the ambiguity between the corporeal and other worlds. Here there is a blurring of lines so well represented by the illustrations as well as the writing so that there is a murkiness, and not every story is completely resolved, further enhancing the reader’s disquiet and thoughts.

I thoroughly enjoyed Spooky Ambiguous. I appreciated having both poems and prose, first and third person perspectives and a collection that can be dipped into or read in the order presented as I did. If like me, you view the concept of trick or treat anathema, I think you’ll be missing a trick if you don’t treat yourself to this eclectic collection instead. Embrace the otherworldliness and, like me, you might be surprised, but if you’re a reader hoping for a cure for diabetes – watch out!

About Lorna Brookes

Lorna Brookes is an illustrator, most commonly seen filling children’s books with animals for Crumps Barn Studio. She’s also occasionally an author. She loves re-imagining the natural world in print. Her background in archaeology and Fine Art is a significant influence. She is married and lives in a very rural corner of Gloucestershire.

For further information, follow Lorna on Twitter @CrumpsBarnBooks.

Today it’s my pleasure to share an extract from Ruby Roy and the Murder in the Falls by Rima Ray. I had hoped to share this almost a month ago but life and blog demands outwitted me, but I think you’ll agree it was worth waiting for! My enormous thanks to Ben at Cameron Publicity for facilitating this.

Published on 3rd May 2022, Ruby Roy and the Murder in the Falls is available for purchase here.

Ruby Roy and the Murder in the Falls

Meet Dr. Ruby Roy. She is a twenty-nine-year-old, goofy, warm, and absent-minded professor in her third year at Baron University, located a few miles from the Falls. A plus-size woman of mixed Indian and Canadian roots, and cursed with an overactive imagination stemming from watching too many Bollywood and Disney films, Ruby is struggling to make her mark and stay out of trouble.

It doesn’t help matters that she keeps stumbling into a series of embarrassing incidents, even as she desperately tries to keep her superiors in the College happy. Unfortunately for Ruby, things take a turn for the worse when she discovers Professor Peter Malcolm’s dead body in his office. But who could have killed him? And why? And why does the Detective investigating the case look like a famous Hollywood actor?

Suddenly all the Poirot, Marple, Sherlock Holmes, and Father Brown books she loves reading seem to have come to life as she finds herself in the middle of a real-life murder mystery. And with the murderer on the loose, no one is safe. With the help of her husband, Cleo, her very own Watson, Ruby tries to solve the mystery before she is next on the killer’s list!

An Extract from Ruby Roy and the Murder in the Falls

Chapter 1

IT WAS A BEAUTIFUL fall day in October. Located in Rosewood, New York, a few miles from the majestic Niagara Falls, Baron University’s campus was recently voted “the most scenic campus in the Northeast.” The weather was a bit cold—a sign winter was coming. The occasional chilly breeze left students and faculty exiting buildings clutching their coats or burying their heads in hoodies, eager to head home to huddle. Despite the chill, the sun was still shining bright. Fall leaves glistened while strewn untidily all over the campus grounds. They formed a colorful mosaic of yellows, oranges, and reds.

Dr. Ruby Roy was just stepping out of Bailey Hall, the College of Business building on campus. She shivered slightly as she clung to her new men’s plus-size Ralph Lauren suit. The tiny piece of cloth with the Ralph Lauren logo was still visible at the helm.

“How would people know it’s Ralph Lauren if I remove it?” Ruby had complained when her husband, Cleo, suggested she remove the tag.

At five foot seven inches with honey-complexioned skin, warm chocolate-brown eyes, jet-black pixie-cut hair, and a plus-size frame at 190 pounds, Ruby Roy was hard to miss. She had led an eventful life prior to joining Baron. The sole offspring of a white Canadian mother and an Indian father, she was a dual American and Canadian citizen. And by age twenty-nine she had lived on almost every continent—thanks to her dad’s job as a diplomat.

Ruby looked sideways to see if her ride had arrived. She made for a curious figure on the sidewalk with her eccentric style. At present, she had paired her Ralph Lauren suit with a floor-length black skirt. She had accessorized her outfit with sparkling Tiffany & Co. diamond studs nestled on her lobes. Her look may appear conservative at first glance, but the yellow and black Snoopy socks that adorned her practical Dr. Scholl’s footwear suggested otherwise. As did the tiny red hearts on the yellow scarf around her neck. And the pink beanie covering her head and ears—a Care Bear logo displayed prominently on the side. Her style was an amalgamation, a reflection of her eccentric personality. Fancy yet whimsical, luxurious yet pragmatic, classic conservative yet colorful and childlike.

Her suit, for instance, was a recent online purchase. A pricy one at four figures, it was an aberration in her online purchase history, which consisted primarily of ten to twenty-five–dollar impulse buys from Amazon. Mostly cute stationery and T-shirts with famous cartoon characters such as Goofy, the Rugrats, Snoopy, and Mickey and Minnie. She had not planned on buying a new suit, especially not one from the men’s department. However, given her trusted black Calvin Klein suit had developed tears and stains from daily use and the women’s 1X suit was out of stock online, she didn’t have a choice. As a business school professor, she was expected to have a couple of suits at the ready for classes and other professional events.

Ruby had briefly debated getting the XL size for women, which was available, but she had decided against it after recalling her last unfortunate online purchase. The one time she had hastily ordered a pantsuit one size down, it had ripped in the middle of her conference presentation at the downtown Hilton in Chicago—right in the middle of her slide on “seamless structures,” exposing her posterior and her pink Hello Kitty underwear. For the rest of the afternoon, the incident had left her immobile, unable to get up from her seat to greet the conference chair or other participants at the end. The torturous situation had lasted for two more hours. All the while, she had been forced to continue remaining seated amongst a bunch of Catholic priests who had promptly assembled for the next session on “Exploring the Role of God in Vincentian Education.” Ruby had felt conspicuously out of place in the sea of black and white, as she felt the frequent glares of the messengers of God surrounding her as they discussed all things divine. That day, Ruby had prayed to God to be rescued. And her prayers were finally answered when her husband, Cleo, managed to save her from the conference room, replacement pants in tow.

Ruby rechecked her iPhone. It had been several minutes since she had texted Cleo to pick her up. She looked closely at the parked cars nearby, hoping to catch their “midnight green” 2020 Toyota Camry. It was a recent big purchase. “The only one left,” assured the fawning salesman as he egged them on to get it. It was a peculiar shade—blue and green with a slight shimmer. And like a kid in a candy store or a cat enchanted by a bright red laser pointer, Ruby couldn’t resist all things pretty and shiny. An hour into their first visit to the dealership, the contract had been signed. They had used Cleo’s insurance information since Ruby couldn’t drive, a fact that had amused Cleo when he had first met her at a Tim Hortons café in Montreal three years earlier. He couldn’t believe that the same woman who had just completed a five-year PhD program at McGill, two master’s degrees before that at Cornell and Toronto, and a bachelor’s at Princeton had not been able to master the simple yet essential skill of driving.

It wasn’t necessarily due to lack of effort, Ruby had assured him that day. She had tried learning in New Jersey while doing her bachelor’s. But then there was that somewhat unfortunate incident in driving school when she had mistakenly taken a right turn instead of a left in a residential neighborhood. Resulting in the car—with Ruby and the hapless, screaming driving instructor—breaking through the front door of a neighbor’s house and stopping inches short of bumping into the residents. A Mr. and Mrs. Jorgensen, an older couple in their eighties who were unfortunately in their birthday suits. Empty nesters enjoying some intimate time alone, only to be rudely and shockingly interrupted by a big gray Ford SUV right in the middle of their living room. Mr. Jorgensen, a World War Two veteran, had later said the incident had been “far worse than surviving D-Day at Normandy.” In the aftermath, Ruby’s father, Dr. Roy, a senior diplomat at the World Bank, had to heavily compensate the Jorgensens and the driving instructor to allow his daughter to continue her studies uninterrupted. His sole request to his only child when she came up to him to apologize after the debacle was, “Please don’t drive, sweetheart. It’s just not safe with you.” And that effectively had ended Ruby’s early efforts and interest in learning to drive…

***

…As Cleo drove off campus, passing the “Welcome to Baron University” sign, Ruby abruptly exclaimed. “Wait! We must go back! I forgot my backpack.”

“Really?” Cleo said. “You know this is only the hundredth time this has happened.”

“I know, I know . . . I’m sorry. I don’t know why I keep forgetting,” Ruby replied apologetically.

“Okay, no worries, let’s go back.”

Cleo dropped Ruby off at the front of Bailey Hall. The sun was just about to set. The skies were pinkish-red, and one could see the silhouettes of a line of birds flying away in the distance. The temperature had dropped by a few more degrees.

“I’ll be right back,” Ruby promised as she stepped out of the car. She shivered.

“You need my jacket?” Cleo asked as he moved his hand to the zipper.

“No, thanks.” Ruby smiled. “You’re such a gentleman. But I’ll only be a few minutes.”

“I aim to please, Madame.” Cleo grinned. His Quebecois French accent mildly came through on the last word.

Ruby blew him an air kiss and walked toward the building. Just then, the Belmont clock tower on campus chimed. Ruby turned around to see that the clock had struck six. She used her Baron University ID to unlock the building door, then she rushed to the elevators to get to her office on the third floor.

As she stepped out of the elevator, a figure in a black overcoat hurried past her down the stairs. She couldn’t tell who it was but surmised it was likely a faculty member or the cleaning staff.

The hallway to her office appeared dark and deserted. The motion-sensor lights turned on as she walked toward her office. Ruby walked past all the tables and chairs strategically placed for students to sit and work on during the day. The business school faculty offices were located at the far-right corner of the third floor, past all the vending machines. As she got to her door, she fumbled, trying to retrieve her office keys from her coat pocket. She noticed that the light was still on across the hallway. It was her chair’s office: room 365C.

That’s unusual, she thought. He is usually gone by this hour.

She debated if she should drop by and say hello. Since the Christmas party, she had been avoiding one-on-one interactions with her chair, barring the mandatory college and department meetings. On the surface, there wasn’t any reason to actively avoid him. Akin to the dean, he had understood her clumsiness and had said that all was good. But Ruby still felt guilty every time she saw him.

In a split second, she decided to let go of her guilt and stop by for a quick visit. He isn’t going to eat you, she assured herself. She walked gingerly toward his door, firmly pushing her glasses up her nose. She knocked. Lightly at first. No answer. Then a bit louder. Still no answer.

“Dr. Malcolm,” she called out. “Pete . . .” she said, remembering her chair preferred the more casual moniker.

Still no response.

Mustering a little courage, Ruby gently pushed open the door to his office.

“Hey, I just wanted to say—”

She froze at the sight in front of her.

Dr. Peter Malcolm was seated in his chair. His face was pointed slightly up. His mouth was wide open, and his eyes, large and round as a fish’s, stared blankly at Ruby.

A knife handle was protruding from his chest, blood staining the area.

“P-P-Pete . . .” Ruby stammered.

Suddenly she felt something hit her from behind. Then everything went black . . .

****

I love that extract! I think Ruby sounds just the kind of character I’d like to find out more about.

About Rima Ray

Rima Ray spent her childhood in Kuwait, Qatar, India, the Philippines, Japan, Canada, and the US, surviving the first Gulf War in Kuwait and the triple disaster in Japan. She holds Bachelors’ and Masters’ Degrees from Cornell University and Ph.D. from McGill University.

These days Rima leads a more peaceful life as a professor in upstate New York with her husband Frederik. Apart from reading mysteries and working on her next Ruby Roy novel, she enjoys eating Asian food and spending time with her Maine Coon cats, Million and Nobel.

Her next book Ruby Roy and the Hawaiian Mystery is currently in the works.

For more information visit Rima’s website. You can also find Rima on Facebook and Instagram and follow her on Twitter @RimaRay2022.

It’s an absolute pleasure to be involved in the launch celebrations for The Empire by Michael Ball and I would like to thank Rachel of Rachel’s Random Resources for inviting me to be part of the blog tour. I’m delighted to be able to share my review of The Empire today.

The Empire was published by Zaffre on 13th October 2022 and is available for purchase through the links here.

The Empire

Welcome to The Empire theatre

1922. When Jack Treadwell arrives at The Empire, in the middle of a rehearsal, he is instantly mesmerised. But amid the glitz and glamour, he soon learns that the true magic of the theatre lies in its cast of characters – both on stage and behind the scenes.

There’s stunning starlet Stella Stanmore and Hollywood heartthrob Lancelot Drake; and Ruby Rowntree, who keeps the music playing, while Lady Lillian Lassiter, theatre owner and former showgirl, is determined to take on a bigger role. And then there’s cool, competent Grace Hawkins, without whom the show would never go on . . . could she be the leading lady Jack is looking for?

When long-held rivalries threaten The Empire’s future, tensions rise along with the curtain. There is treachery at the heart of the company and a shocking secret waiting in the wings. Can Jack discover the truth before it’s too late, and the theatre he loves goes dark?

Musical theatre legend Michael Ball brings his trademark warmth, wit and glamour to this, his debut novel.

Enjoy the show!

My Review of The Empire

Jack is finally back in England.

I’m always somewhat sceptical when celebrities write a book, but The Empire is an absolute delight, resonant with all the front of house glamour and backstage shenanigans that only someone like Michael Ball, with his first hand knowledge of musical theatre, could produce with such attention to detail and authenticity. It’s absolutely steeped in colourful characters, Machiavellian plots and a fast-paced, hugely entertaining story that I simply devoured. I loved the authorial style too because there’s a vivid appeal to the senses that brought settings alive.

Initially when I saw the cast list at the start of the book, (albeit perfectly in tune with any theatre programme) my heart sank. I thought I’d never keep all the individuals clear in my head, but I was completely wrong. Michael Ball has created a distinct set of people that are memorable and believable with personalities that leap from the page. I was immediately in love with Jack, but particularly enjoyed the gradual uncovering of Lady Lillian Lassiter’s character as, through her, Michael Ball illustrates love, ambition, history and the ways in which our past shapes our lives. Between the pages of The Empire are heroes and charlatans, rich and poor, liars and cheats, stoics and the brave, those with courage in all kinds of forms as well as cowards and bullies, all rubbing along with the contemptible and the admirable in equal measure. I just loved how all the people are connected in a kind of kaleidoscopic dance worthy of any theatrical finale, making for an enthralling read.

I thought the plot was excellent. It has pace and dynamism with some unforeseen surprises along the way that are completely enthralling. I’m desperately hoping for more narratives involving some of the key players in future books because they have taken on a vivid reality in my mind through reading The Empire. Indeed, The Empire is such an inspired title. It’s a physical theatre, but so much more, with criminal empires, family empires and enough historical reference to engender an unsettled time of Empire for the country when social norms were being challenged and tested. I thoroughly enjoyed the exploration of identity, of our place in society, of team work and of honour that pervade what is a smashing narrative and which add depth and interest.

The Empire is sumptuous, warm and witty with just the right balance of light and shade. Its division into acts is pitch perfect for the subject matter and it would make a fabulous theatre or television production too. The Empire felt joyous to read, surprisingly emotional and exciting, and I absolutely loved it.

About Michael Ball

Michael Ball OBE is a singer, actor, presenter and now author. He’s been a star of musical theatre for over three decades, winning the Laurence Olivier Award for Best Actor in a Musical twice, he’s also won two BRIT awards and been nominated for a Grammy. Michael regularly sells out both his solo tours and his Ball &Boe shows with Alfie Boe and has multiple platinum albums. The Empire is his first novel.

For further information, visit Michael’s website, follow him on Twitter @mrmichaelball and find him on Instagram and Facebook.

There’s more with these other bloggers too:

It’s almost a year since I reviewed Caroline Scott’s The Visitors here and with her The Photographer of the Lost, reviewed here, one of my top reads in 2019, I could not be happier than to share my review of her latest book Good Taste for the blog tour today. My enormous thanks to Anne Cater of Random Things Tours for inviting me to participate.

Good Taste was published by Simon and Schuster on 13th October 2022 and is available for purchase through the links here.

Good Taste

Good taste is in the eye of the beholder…

England, 1932, and the country is in the grip of the Great Depression. To lift the spirits of the nation, Stella Douglas is tasked with writing a history of food in England. It’s to be quintessentially English and will remind English housewives of the old ways, and English men of the glory of their country. The only problem is –much of English food is really from, well, elsewhere . . .

So, Stella sets about unearthing recipes from all corners of the country, in the hope of finding a hidden culinary gem. But what she discovers is rissoles, gravy, stewed prunes and lots of oatcakes.

Longing for something more thrilling, she heads off to speak to the nation’s housewives. But when her car breaks down and the dashing and charismatic Freddie springs to her rescue, she is led in a very different direction . . .

Full of wit and vim, Good Taste is a story of discovery, of English nostalgia, change and challenge, and one woman’s desire to make her own way as a modern woman.

My Review of Good Taste

Stella has a new book to write.

I so enjoyed Good Taste. It’s a cracking story. There’s a wicked, wry sense of humour underpinning the narrative that felt spot on for the era and was absolutely brilliant to read. I’ve no idea if the alliterative elements within Caroline Scott’s writing were intentional (I suspect so) but they added to my enjoyment so much. And any book that makes reference to my favourite poet of all time, John Donne, has got to be a winner!

There’s a fabulous exploration of English food and a brilliant realisation that Englishness is a somewhat nebulous and moveable concept that makes Good Taste pertinent to today’s society whilst being pitch perfect in reflecting the society of the era Stella inhabits. Xenophobic attitudes, contemptuous comments about the less well off and the excesses of those who should know better mean that, whilst there is a lightness of touch in Caroline Scott’s writing, it only serves to contrast the deeper themes all the more effectively. In Good Taste we discover what good taste truly is! I loved the way the author explored grief and relationships, honesty, worth and value with such razor sharp perception. Good Taste may revolve around research for a book about English food, but it’s surprisingly emotional too.

The plot in Good Taste is relatively gentle as Stella researches her book, but it is completely engaging. Sumptuous descriptions place the reader at the heart of the story so that it is as if they are seeing, hearing, touching, feeling and tasting everything with Stella to the extent that I’ll never consider an Eccles cake or oatcake with quite such indifference as I have before! That said, and despite living in the Fens, I won’t be eating eel in any form…

I loved the interplay between Stella and Freddie, Stella’s relationship with Michael, her sense of duty to her father and her need to be an individual woman in her own right too. Stella is as vibrant, engaging and interesting a character as you could wish to meet and what is so wonderful here is her development over the story so that she becomes a kind of Everywoman and an aspirational character for us all. I cared what happened to her.

Good Taste is a smashing story. Historically accurate and authentic, with a lead character who cannot be confined by the book’s pages but who I keep thinking about, I found Good Taste absorbed me completely. It made me laugh aloud, brought an occasional moistness to my eye and above all made me feel happy and brilliantly entertained. What more could a reader ask? Don’t miss this one.

About Caroline Scott

Caroline completed a PhD in History at the University of Durham. She developed a particular interest in the impact of the First World War on the landscape of Belgium and France, and in the experience of women during the conflict – fascinations that she was able to pursue while she spent several years working as a researcher for a Belgian company. Caroline is originally from Lancashire, but now lives in southwest France. The Photographer of the Lost was a BBC Radio 2 Book Club pick.

You can follow Caroline on Twitter @CScottBooks, or visit her website for further information.

There’s more with these other bloggers too:

I could not be happier today than to welcome fellow blogger and friend Anne Williams to Linda’s Book Bag. Anne is a fabulous blogger at Being Anne and a huge supporter of romantic fiction – to the extent that, as a previous winner of the Romantic Novelists’ Association Media Star Award, she has been nominated again and has made it through to the final for 2022. I’m delighted Anne agreed to be interviewed today.

An Interview with Anne Williams

Welcome to Linda’s Book Bag Anne and congratulations on your RNA Media Star Award nomination.

This isn’t the first time you’ve been nominated and you’ve won the award in the past. How does that make you feel?

Thank you Linda! This is the third time I’ve been a finalist, and it feels every bit as special this time as it did when I walked away with that lovely trophy back in 2019. I started blogging nearly ten years ago, and all I ever really wanted to do was share my love of the books I’ve enjoyed – I’m delighted that people enjoy reading my reviews, and even more so that I’m able to support a large group of very talented authors and help (in my small way!) to bring their books some of the extra attention they deserve. Romance has always been my first love – and to be recognised by the RNA (their members are my rock stars…) feels particularly special.

I bet! What was it like when you won previously?

Do you know, the night itself is still a bit of a blur – and not only because of the wine consumed! I was so surprised when my name was called and I had to get up onto that stage to accept the award – and, I have to say, totally terrified because I hadn’t even thought what I was going to say when in front of the microphone. In the end though, it was much easier than I thought it would be – I said a heartfelt thank you, told everyone how much I loved romantic fiction, and about how it had given me an escape and kept me going through a few particularly difficult years. The warmth from everyone in the room was something I’ll always remember – and I think my smile probably says everything else…

I think it does. I was there that night and remember it well. I was thrilled for you that you’d had all your support for your ‘rock stars’ recognised.

So, what do you think is so special about romantic fiction?

My goodness, where can I start? I might be getting on a little now, but I have had my moments – and I’m sure there can’t be many of us who haven’t had the wonderful experience of being in love. I particularly like to see (maybe that should say “feel”) a special chemistry between the book’s main characters – when they become real people, striving to overcome any obstacles that cross their paths on the way to the happy ending I know will be coming. But it’s often about more than just the central romance – I like all the characters and the relationships between them to be believable, for individuals to have some faults and failings, some depth in their back story, a few surprises. But I also love a vividly drawn setting, a strong supporting cast, a community I enjoy being part of. And the writing and storytelling really must be as good as it could possibly be – I like to be wrapped up in the pages of a book when I’m reading and for the rest of the world to disappear, and that’s something I’ve unfailingly found in the world of romantic fiction.

I agree completely. And if there’s a happy ending too, so much the better. What would you say to those who never read romantic fiction?

Just try it – it might surprise you. I sometimes think that those who avoid it don’t realise the immense range that the genre covers, or the sheer quality of so much of the writing. Ok, I’ll accept that if your first love is serial murder, you might not be attracted to a romantic comedy or Regency romance – but romantic suspense might give you a lot of what you might be looking for. And how will you know if you never try? Choose carefully, read with an open mind… you might find you’ve found something you’ll love as much as I do.

Sage advice. I think only reading one genre is like only eating the same meal every day! What qualities to you look for in a romantic protagonist, male or female?

I have very eclectic tastes – but I do need to either be able to identify with, or at least empathise with, a book’s main characters. I think that’s all about depth – people don’t simply exist in the present, they have pasts, they have friends and families, life sometimes gets complicated. And people are rarely perfect – a few flaws and a bit of behaving badly are something I’m always happy to see.

Is there anything you’d like to see more or less of in romantic fiction?

I’ve already seen a lot of changes over the years I’ve been reading and reviewing. Perhaps the most significant one for me has been the age of the characters – it used to be so difficult to find a heroine who was out of her twenties, but nowadays they’re increasingly in their 40s, 50s or beyond. It’s something I’ve particularly welcomed – and I’m certainly not the only reader past the first flush who enjoys being able to identify more readily with a book’s protagonists. And that’s something that’s carried through into the supporting casts too – older characters just aren’t cardboard cut outs or (even worse) cuddly grandmothers any more. More please!

Yes indeed. We 60+ women still have life in us!

Is there a ‘go to’ romantic author whose books you never miss?

Now, you don’t really expect me to answer that one, do you?

Actually, no not really, but I thought I’d ask…

I do have my firm favourites (I have an ever-growing list) but I’m very rarely able to read and review every book they produce when they seem to write books even faster than I can read them. And there’s always the chance I’ll come across a new favourite, so I do like to mix things up a little and read books from new-to-me authors.

Which romantic novelist do you think is too much under the radar and deserves more recognition?

There really are more than I could begin to mention – especially those without a mainstream publisher, who have to work so hard to be seen. There are some real gems to be found in the self and independently published world, and I really do enjoy helping bring them the attention they so richly deserve.

I agree. Self published authors or those from small independent publishers don’t have the big budgets behind them for promotion and there are so many brilliant writers out there. I think the work you do in supporting them is amazing.

Is there a romantic book you haven’t read that you’re itching to get to?

I’m acutely aware of the fact that there are a few authors – loved by many – whose books I’ve never been able to get round to reading and reviewing. I read three or four books a week – sometimes more – but even if I read ten times as many I still wouldn’t be doing more than scratching the surface.

So many books and so little time – the curse of the blogger!

Which has been your favourite romantic read this year so far?

Again, I’m not going to answer that one – I do pull together a “books of the year” list at the end of every year, and it’s one of the most difficult things I ever do. Romance covers such a wide spectrum – books become favourites at different times for differing reasons. But I will say that this year might just have been one of the best in a very long time… but I think I might say that every year.

What other genres do you enjoy?

I am pretty faithful to contemporary romantic fiction – and to the broader genre of what used to be called “women’s fiction”, but might perhaps be better described as book club fiction, contemporary fiction or “up lit”. But I also enjoy historical fiction – far more than I used to, when I rarely used to venture outside time slip or a well-handled dual timeline. I do visit the dark side from time to time – psychological thrillers preferred, but not too regularly, and often as an audiobook. And I’m never quite sure what makes a book “literary fiction”, but I do sometimes read that too.

You’re a blogger so could you tell us a bit about your blog and what blogging entails for you please?

My blog is called Being Anne – it’s almost ten years old now, and started almost by accident just as a place to keep all my reviews in one place, a nice little hobby. I was surprised when I found people starting to follow it – by 2016, my posts had an astonishing almost quarter of a million views. After retiring, I decided to develop it a bit further – I’d already started adding interviews, guest posts and features – moved everything over to WordPress, and began to post daily.

I now have almost 12,000 followers (with almost 1,000 also following my linked Facebook page) and my daily views rarely fall below 200. You’ll find me on Twitter too (@Williams13Anne) – sharing other bloggers’ and authors’ posts as well as my own, and where others share mine in greater volume than I can say thank you for.

I will admit that producing daily posts did begin to feel a little bit like another full-time job – I’ve scaled back a little recently, but still try to post four or five times a week. And these days, my posts are mainly reviews – it’s what I enjoy doing the most, I think it’s what people like to read, and it’s certainly the kind of support most appreciated by the authors. And I still love doing it – and really can’t see a time when I’ll want to stop!

I can’t either. And long may Being Anne continue! Huge congratulations again Anne on your third nomination for the RNA Media Star Award and thanks so much for being on Linda’s Book Bag today. 

About Anne Williams

Anne Williams is a book blogger and reviewer, sharing her reviews of the romance and women’s fiction she loves in all the most important places, including on her website Being Anne; the blog is now approaching ten years old, and has almost 12,000 followers. She lives in Wetherby in Yorkshire, and took early retirement a decade ago intending to spend her time doing everything she enjoyed, including reading and reviewing as many books as she possibly could, and indulging herself with exotic holidays. Life didn’t quite work out as expected, when she became carer for her late mother; the travelling might have had to stop for a while, but nothing could possibly come between Anne and her reading. In recent years, Anne has developed a passion for Nordic walking, and can often be found exploring the Yorkshire countryside with her poles in hand. Her blog won the Best Pal award at the Annual Bloggers’ Bash for three years running, and she was delighted to win the RNA’s Media Star of the Year award in 2019.

For more information, follow Anne on Twitter, find her on Facebook and visit her blog Being Anne.

It’s an absolute pleasure to welcome Margaret Amatt to Linda’s Book Bag today as part of the blog tour organised by Rachel of Rachel’s Random Resources. My thanks to Rachel for enabling me to stay in with Margaret.

Let’s find out more:

Staying in with Margaret Amatt

Welcome to Linda’s Book Bag Margaret and thank you for agreeing to stay in with me.

Tell me, which of your books have you brought along to share this evening and why have you chosen it?

A Festive Surprise – it’s my latest (and final) book in a ten book series.

Gosh! I had no idea there were so many in this series. What can we expect from an evening in with A Festive Surprise?

It’s a Christmas romcom with a twist! It’s got all the festive ingredients you would expect – and want. I’m talking twinkly lights, mince pies, Santa’s grotto, elf suits and more. It also has a Scrooge-like character in Holly. She’s over Christmas and it isn’t even December yet. Enter Farid. He’s the hero with a difference – don’t worry he’s still a dreamy book boyfriend but he’s clueless about Christmas. He’s had a hard shift coming to Scotland from Syria as a refugee and some of our Christmas traditions not only baffle him but make him laugh.

I love the idea of a slightly different romantic lead man. Tell me more.

Holly and Farid are drawn to each other but there’s a world between them. But they soon discover they can learn from each other – that’s when the fun really starts!

Only when I started looking at Christmas through Farid’s eyes, did I see just how very odd some of our Christmas traditions are. Holly tries to explain some of them but lots of them she’s equally clueless about. As the learn and grow together they discover something special – not just about Christmas, but about places, people, family and love.

That’s the enduring message of the book – the heart of Christmas and home isn’t about ‘stuff’.

I think you’re absolutely right Margaret. Christmas has become far too commercialised and all we really need is our loved ones around us.

I love this quote from Farid in the book:

‘Maybe these things are like the decorations on the tree. The extra bits people add on; every year it grows as people add more and more. Some old decorations… ya’ni… they fade and are forgotten, but the heart of the tree is the same. That’s what we must find. The heart of Christmas. Not what each little extra bit means. Because different people attach different meaning to them. You might love the decoration that’s like a snowflake; I might like the red flower more. We must dig deep, find the heart and what the heart means to you.’

Oh yes!

What else have you brought along and why?

This is a photo of the Isle of Mull in winter. I started a love affair with this island over twenty years ago and it’s now the setting for all ten of my books.

I’m not surprised Margaret. What a stunning location. It makes me want to climb in the motorhome and head there right away.

The gorgeous romantic setting has played at my heartstrings ever since my first visit there. In fact that very visit was the seed for the first story in this series I wrote. That book eventually became book four and was based on my youthful naivety and lack of planning for that trip! I travelled to the island and got completely lost! I had no idea how big it was, thinking I could drive around the whole thing in about half an hour. How wrong was I? I discovered it’s about 40 miles long and has 300 miles of coastline!  It got me thinking what fun it would be to land a character there and give her a real need to find someone. I made it even worse for her by sending her on public transport!

That sounds very cruel! But also very appealing as a storyline!

Some years later, I was on holiday on the island again and had injured my foot. In the evenings, I wasn’t able to go out walks and just wanted to rest my foot. I started to crave books set on the island. There wasn’t a lot of choice in the fiction department. That was when I realised if I wanted one, I would have to write it myself. Now, I have ten! Earlier this year a bookshop on the island started stocking them too, so hopefully lots more holidaymakers will enjoy the series in situ!

What could be better? I love reading about the locations I visit. Thank you so much for telling me about your series and A Festive Surprise in particular. I know they can all be found here. 

A Festive Surprise

She can’t abide Christmas. He’s not sure what it’s all about. Together they’re in for a festive surprise.

Ambitious software developer Holly may have a festive name but the connection ends there. She despises the holiday season and decides to flee to the remote island of Mull in a bid to escape from it.

Syrian refugee Farid has made a new home in Scotland but he’s lonely. Understanding Nessie and Irn Bru is one thing, but when glittery reindeer and tinsel hit the shelves, he’s completely bemused. Determined to understand a new culture, he asks his new neighbour to educate him on all things Christmas.

When Holly reluctantly agrees, he realises there’s more to her hatred of mince pies and mulled wine than meets the eye. Farid makes it his mission to inject some joy into Hollys’ life but falling for her is an unexpected gift that was never on his list.

As their attraction sparkles, can Christmas work its magic on Holly and Farid, or will their spark fizzle out with the end of December?

A Festive Surprise is available for purchase on Amazon UK and Amazon US.

About Margaret Amatt

Margaret is a writer, mummy, wife and chocolate eater (in any order you care to choose). She lives in highland Perthshire in a little house close to the woods where she often sees red squirrels, deer and other such tremendously Scottish wildlife… Though not normally haggises or even men in kilts!

She has published nine books and written many more. Margaret won a short story writing competition in 2012 and her winning entry was performed live to an audience at Pitlochry Festival Theatre as part of their Winter Words Event. This spring boarded Margaret’s journey from writing for fun to novel writing – though she still enjoys every minute of it.

Margaret is also a keen amateur photographer, who enjoys drawing, reading, and talking about books.

You can visit Margaret’s website for further information, find her on Facebook or follow her on Twitter @amattauthor.

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My enormous thanks to Tracy Fenton for inviting me to participate in the blog tour for A Conflict of Interests by Claire Gradidge and to Zaffre for sending me a copy of of the book in return for an honest review.

A Conflict of Interests was published by Zaffre on 13th October 2022 and is available for purchase here.

A Conflict of Interests

June 1944, Romsey, England.

Josephine ‘Jo’ Fox is at an impasse since the unwelcome return of her wayward husband Richard. So, when he disappears again, she is neither concerned nor surprised – until a burning car is discovered with a body inside. And there are signs that Richard is somehow involved.

Jo is determined to find both her husband and answers, yet with her friend Bram Nash in hospital suffering an infection of his old war wound, she must do so alone. When information comes to light that implicates Bram too, Jo finds herself on a dangerous path to the truth.

But what will be left for her when all is revealed?

My Review of A Conflict of Interests

I expected a gentle, meandering cosy crime in A Conflict of Interests, but I was soon disabused of that assumption as it opens in dramatic fashion in a manner that engages the reader instantly and keeps them enthralled throughout.

The plot is fast paced and cleverly constructed to keep the reader guessing. I thought the timed and dated chapter headings with the italicised narrative interspersing Jo’s first person story, gave impetus that compelled me on. I kept thinking I’d just read one more chapter and found myself devouring A Conflict of Interests because I found it exciting and interesting.

I loved meeting Josephine Fox and am now desperate to read more with her as the protagonist. Jo is feisty and feminist, reckless and measured, intelligent and passionate, so that she is an ideal heroine. The depiction of her relationship with Richard made my blood boil whereas I was desperate for her to find happiness with Bram. Claire Gradidge made me care about Jo completely and I found myself cheering for her all the way.

Indeed, all the characters are so convincing, particularly the insidious Alec, so that A Conflict of Interests is peopled by realistic and fascinating individuals that really bring the narrative to life. I thought they were brilliantly depicted.

The themes weaving through the story give real texture. Social mores, the place of women in society, war and conflict, loyalty and morality, mental and physical health, rivalry, betrayal and courage all swirl through an absolutely super read, giving plenty for the reader to think about. I really enjoyed this aspect of the book.

Set against a brilliantly authentic, but not intrusive, historical backdrop, A Conflict of Interests manages to be a thriller, a romance and a social history that educates, entrances and entertains. I thought it was excellent and thoroughly recommend it.

About Claire Gradidge

Claire Gradidge was born and brought up in Romsey. After a career as, among other things, a nurse and a school librarian, she went to the University of Winchester, where she graduated in 2009 with a first class honours BA in Creative Writing. In January 2018, she was awarded a PhD in creative writing and The Unexpected Return of Josephine Fox was written as the creative element of her PhD study. An early version of the opening 3000 words was highly commended in the Good Housekeeping Magazine competition in 2012.

Claire has taught at the University of Winchester as an Associate Lecturer for six years and has also had some short fictions and poems published in South, Orbis and Vortex. She has been married for 40 years and has two adult sons.

Follow Claire on Twitter @ClaireGradidge for more information.

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If you visit Linda’s Book Bag regularly, you’ll know how much I love Heidi Swain’s writing. You’ll find ten other posts featuring Heidi’s books here! Consequently I couldn’t be happier than to help celebrate her latest book, A Christmas Celebration by sharing my review today. My enormous thanks to Sara-Jade Virtue for sending me a copy of A Christmas Celebration.

Published by Simon and Schuster on 13th October 2022, A Christmas Celebration is available for purchase through the links here.

A Christmas Celebration

*** The sparkling new Christmas novel from the Sunday Times bestselling author Heidi Swain! ***

‘Grab a hot chocolate and lose yourself in this heart-warming story of romance, community and secrets. The perfect story to read by the fire!’ PHILLIPPA ASHLEY

‘Brimming with warmth and Christmas cheer’ SARAH MORGAN

When Paige turns up unannounced at Wynthorpe Hall, she discovers the place she knew when she was growing up has changed beyond all recognition. She’s only planning to stay for a short time, but is quickly pulled into local life.

One night while driving home after delivering library books and shopping to residents she stumbles across an isolated cottage and meets Albert, its elderly and rather grumpy owner. She quickly realises there’s more to Albert than meets the eye and the same can be said for the other man she can’t seem to help running into, handsome but brooding Brodie.

All three of them have a secret and a desire to hide away from the world, but with Christmas on the horizon, is that really the best way to celebrate the season?

My Review of A Christmas Celebration

It was so lovely to be back at Wynthorpe Hall with Heidi Swain. A Christmas Celebration felt like a total treat in book form. I do think, however, that Heidi Swain’s books should come with a warning. I’ve read so many that I ought to be used to it by now, but I swear I put on half a stone just reading her glorious descriptions of food. She has the ability to make me ravenous as I read.

There’s a smashing plot in A Christmas Celebration with all the Heidi Swain hallmarks I’ve come to expect, including a warm and uplifting sense of community, a fizzing romance and a totally engaging and entertaining story that transports the reader away from the cares of the real world for a while.

I love the way in which Heidi Swain blends romantic fiction with just a touch of mystery – in why Paige has left Jordan – and illustrates that the most wonderful sense of self worth and satisfaction in life can be achieved not through material riches, but through being kind and helping others. A Christmas Celebration is the most gorgeous antidote to the depressing negativity that pervades much of the real world. It leaves the reader feeling as if they’ve found real human connection again.

Alongside Paige who is a convincing amalgam of strength and vulnerability, and the attractive, enigmatic Brodie, the character who is most wonderful is Albert Price. He lends the story such a depth, reality and genuine morality that is utterly convincing. What I found most affecting was the way Heidi Swain explored how we so often have to live within the bounds set by others and how difficult it is to be true to ourselves. A Christmas Celebration might be a light, festive read, but that doesn’t mean it lacks emotion, gravitas and profound themes.

If you want your own festive joy, you really need Heidi Swain’s A Christmas Celebration. It is pure Christmas essence in book form and I thoroughly enjoyed it.

About Heidi Swain

Heidi lives in beautiful Norfolk with her family and a mischievous cat called Storm. She is passionate about gardening, the countryside, collecting vintage paraphernalia and reading. Her TBR pile is always out of control!

You can follow Heidi on Twitter @Heidi_Swain and visit her blog or website. You’ll also find Heidi on Facebook and Instagram.

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Today I’m sharing another of my My Weekly online reviews and on this occasion it is of the truly wonderful The Echoes of Love by Jenny Ashcroft.

The Echoes of Love was published by Harper Collins’ HQ on 29th September 2022 and is available for purchase through the links here.

The Echoes of Love

Under the Cretan sun, in the summer of 1936, two young people fall in love…

Eleni has been coming to Crete her entire life, swapping her English home for cherished sun-baked summers with her grandfather, in the shoreside villa her lost mama grew up in. When she arrives in 1936, she believes the long, hot weeks ahead will be no different to so many that have gone before. But someone else is visiting the island that year too: a young German man called Otto. The two of them meet, and – far from the Nazi’s Berlin Olympics, the brewing civil war in Spain – share the happiest time of their lives; a summer of innocence lost, and love discovered; one that is finite, but not the end.

When, in 1941, the island falls to a Nazi invasion, Eleni and Otto meet there once more. It is a different place to the one they knew. Secrets have become currency, traded for lives, and trust is a luxury few can indulge in. Eleni has returned to fight for her home, Otto to occupy it. They are enemies, and their love is not only treacherous, it is dangerous – but will it destroy them, or prove strong enough to overcome the ravages of war?

An epic tale of secrets, love, loyalty, family and how far you’d go to keep those you love safe, The Echoes of Love is an exquisite and deeply moving love letter to Crete – one that will move every reader to tears.

My Review of The Echoes of Love

My full review of The Echoes of Love can be found on the My Weekly website here.

However, what I can say here is that The Echoes of Love is beautifully written and truly one of the most wonderful books I’ve ever had the privilege to read. I could not have loved it more.

Do visit My Weekly to read my full review here.

About Jenny Ashcroft

Jenny Ashcroft is a British author of historical fiction. Having spent many years living, working and exploring in Australia and Asia, she is now based in Brighton where she lives with her family by the sea. She has a degree from Oxford University in history, and has always been fascinated by the past—in particular the way that extraordinary events can transform the lives of normal people.

For more information, visit Jenny’s website or follow Jenny on Twitter @Jenny_Ashcroft and Instagram.